Fluid moving means



Aug. 18, 1959 v QUICK 2,900,125

FLUID MOVING MEANS Filed March 5, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

I THOMAS E.QU|CK 24 By K FIG. 2.

ATTORNEYv Aug. 18, 1959 I T. E. QUICK FLUID MOVING MEANS Filed March 5. 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

THOMAS E QUICK BY MMA MM ATTORNEY United States Patent 6 FLUID MOVING MEANS Thomas E: Quick;'Wichita,"Kans. Application.March1'5;;1954, Serial o.=414,s;s 7

7Claims. (erase-117 This invention relates-to, the movement of fluids. In a more specific aspect,; this inventionrelates to new means forpmoving fluids, particularly In a; still -more specific aspect,;this invention relates to anew type of fan having centrifugal fan means longitudinally disposed within..a housing which cooperates with same to result in highly efiicient air movement. Instillanother specific aspect, this invention relates to new means for moving fiu'ids, particularlyair, from one pointin atsystem to another through a. conduit, such as. mustsbe done in a forced draft heating system or in supplying fresh atmospheric air to:an inner pointorarea in a building,

This applicationisa continuation-impart of my copending application Serial No.-375,894.

Fans having radially disposed blades and-squirrel cage blowers transversely'disposed in a conduit have long been known inthe art-of fluid movement, they being used primarily to exhaust andset :in-movement or to transfer airthrough a conduit, respectively.- Both such radially bladed fan and the squirrel ;cage' -blower havetheir disadvantages in-that they require a substantial amount vof spaceforinstallation,- normally much more-.roomthan is provided in the usual conduit through which the fluid such asair ,movesa In addition,-. a radially; bladed fan is a cumbersometype-of moving.;me ans which can-.

not-be'used in all desirable ;locations.=.

I have invented-fluid-moving means; Theinew means of my invention -has a body, one end portion of-whichis conoidal'and rotatable (and the other end portion of which is fixed and which has asmooth and gently curved sur-. face. In one preferred embodiment of-- the. new fluid moving meansof my invention-the fixed .portionof the body is; streamlined, while in another it ismushroomed to smoothly directfluid-outwardly, The1conoidal= end portion of :the new.-means ofv my invention has a plurality of centrifugal-blower blades. mounted around the base thereof :paralleltothe longitudinal axis-.ofth'e, body; In myndevice there-is a housing mountedgaround therotatable .end zzportion; of the bOdY3'ElIldi a portion. of .thefixed portion; ofqthe -;body;, such housing ghaving an inlet-tier, fluid ;-forward.- Eof; the/rotatable ;.end- -portion-and -an;;out-. let for; fluid to the :rear- .of, the'rotatable' end: portion. The rotatable send POItiOIkQ i my:device.having the centrifugal blower: z-blades and;;=the. housing preferably ;define .a fluid flowa areatsmaller 31211116 ;-rear ;.=-end.gpor tion.- than at the forward end portion of the rotatable end of the body, and; it; is preferred ;that. the change--in fiuid flow area be substantialfromthetintake toithe, -rear;.of therotatablerend of thenbody The housing;;of-;my-;device;is-tpreferably substantially-cylindrical, the rotatable en,d .portion of :the body; and, the housing fonniugapath o gradually decreasing .crosssectional'; flow area,,throughwhichethe fluid moved by the device of my inventionds accelerated The endxi fi th ody t h de 1 my r 0 vhavimg the ;-C&I1t lifllg2}l:;bl 0W6E blades; is; rotated by actuating means -desirably,being mounted- ;in;the fixed ,end. portion ofi the -bodyr Fluid suchass atmospheric airsmoves in through the inlet of the housing and is discharged through 2? the outlet formed {by the housingand-fixed-portionof the body to the rear of. therotatable endportion. The velocity of this air preferably continually jincreases during passage from the housing inlet to a point near. the rear of the rotatable end portion of thebody of my new device, resulting in lowering the pressure-within the,

housing to furtherrincreasez the pressure dilferential between the inside and outside of. thehousing; and increasing .the flowof air through-the use of the device of my invention.- In av preferred specific embodiment ofmy invention, I provide fin means torstraighten the. flow of spiraling airfrom. therotatable-end portionof the body of mydevice.

The new fluid moving gdevice.:of- .my invention is very useful as a fan to circulate air, for example in a room, and because ofits configurationeitwcan conveniently be.

placed'on bookcases, mantels, ,andtthe like, where the ordinary fan having'radial blades of sufiicient size will not sit so as .to -move the airqparallel :to the walls ofthe room. With thenew air moving means of my invention of relatively small diameter, circulation of a great amount of air substantiallyparallel to the-walls of the room can easily be obtained, In addition, as one-skilled in the art can see thefluid'movingmeans of. my invention can, be made-much more-attractive thanv the usual radially bladed fan.

In a desired-specific embodiment of the-newcentrifugal blades-movingmeans of my invention, I install the body duit a cross sectional flow -.a.rea of decreasing sizefromthefront to therearofnthetrotatableend of the :body of. my :device .to 'acceleratetheair andcreate pressure differential: inf-additionto, that createdv .by vrotation. of. theend portion having-the centrifugal. blower blades. This ree sults quiet and efficient air.- circulation. Thesaving ininstallation-. cost. over the. usual-fan having; radially disposed blades or a transversely disposed. squirrel cage blower is substantial.

It is an object vof invention to. provide new. means for: moving fluid.

It is anotherpbjecttoftthis inventionlto provide new means-- for" the: movement: a of fluid: within an enclosure orv :for 'the -=mov.ement of fluid by ,conduitssuchas from a point. outside to a .point insidezanfcnclosure;

It is -a further .object ofithis. invention-to ,providenew; fan means -whichyare efiicient, economicaLand-mhich -re-, quire less spacerinfwvhich, to :operatetthan the, usual; .fan meansl havinggradially disposed, .bladess StilLanothenobject-of, this inventionaisto. provide new fluid moving means wherein .a-.rotatable:,end portion of a body :havmg-longitudinally disposedr centrifugal-i blower blades v:cooperates with,;a housing fora same. .to, result,.-in pressure. differential3 which inptumsresults .in; moving Yet;.-another object ofmy, inuention is-.-toprovide co operatingconduit gandllongitudinally disposed, centrifugal blower -meansnwhichtresult inan eflicient andeconqmical means to move fluidtint .a system: such-ASL a.-..fo rced. heating systems 1 robjec san a n ases hetflu dmnv a a s ofamy inventiont,will beco ne apparent .to.,one skilled i the art upon reading this disclosure.

PatentedAug. 18, 1959 Drawings accompany and are a part of this disclosure. ments of the new fluid moving means of my invention, and it is to be understood that such drawings are not to unduly limit the scope of my invention.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevation view, partly in cross section and partly cut away, of a preferred specific embodiment of my invention, particularly designed and adapted for use as a fan to circulate air within an enclosure.

Fig. 2 is a view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevation view, partly in cross section and partly cut away, of a preferred specific ottoman type fan embodying the new fan means of my invention.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal view partly in cross section of a preferred specific embodiment of the new fluid moving means of my invention mounted in a fluid conduit.

Following is a discussion and description of preferred specific embodiments of the fluid moving means of my invention. In such discussion and description, reference is made to the drawings whereon the same reference numerals are used to indicate like or similar parts or structure. It is to be understood that the following discussion and description is not to unduly limit the scope of my invention.

The new fluid moving means of my invention shown in the drawings is particularly advantageously used to move air, and the fan means of Figs. 1 and 2 has a streamlined body consisting of stationary rear portion 6 and a rotatable forward end portion 8 which is preferably conoidally shaped with a smooth surface, as shown. The rear fixed portion 6 of the body houses actuationg means for rotating conical end portion 8, electric motor means 10 having been found desirable. Electric motor 10 is mounted in housing 6 in any suitable manner.

Rotatable end portion 8 of the streamlined body is suitably mounted on drive shaft 12 of motor 10, such as by disks 14 aflixed to cone 8 and shaft 12 in any suitable manner. It is preferred that the diameter of the fixed portion 6 of the streamlined body be substantially the same as the diameter of member 8 at point or juncture thereto, as shown in the drawings. A plurality of centrifugal blower blades 16 are mounted around the base of rotatable and conical end member 3 parallel with the longitudinal axis of the streamlined body. Such can be suitably mounted on the base end portion of member 8, as shown, or they can be separately mounted on shaft 12 between members 8 and 6 to turn with shaft 12, as desired. An outer rim 18 connects the outer ends of centrifugal blower blades 16 to support same, and blades 16 can be mounted on rim 18 in any suitable manner, such as by welding.

The streamlined body is mounted in substantially cylindrical housing 21), preferably with housing 20 extending from a point forward of rotatable end portion 8 of the body to a point overlapping the fixed rear portion 6 of the streamlined body, as shown. A plurality of stationary and longitudinally disposed curved fins 22 are mounted between housing 20 and the fixed portion 6 of the streamlined body in any suitable manner, such as by screws 24 passing through housing 20 and into fins 22, and fins 22 can be affixed to housing 6 in any suitable manner, such as by Welding. Fins 22 are desirably employed to provide rectilinear flow of air exiting to the rear of the fan, and are curved in the direction shown when member 8 and the centrifugal blower blades 16 are rotated in the direction shown by the arrow on Fig. 2. If the direction of rotation of member 8 and blades 16 is the reverse of the direction shown by the arrow on Fig. 2, the curvature of fins 22 is reversed. As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, other suitable means of mounting the streamlined body in housing 20 can be employed. If desired, the curvature of fins 22 can be such as to give the non-rectilinear direction to exiting air,

or the air exiting from between housing 20 and portion Such drawings depict preferred specific embodi- 6 of the housing can be allowed to move in its normal direction by eliminating fin 22 entirely. I have found it desirable to use curved fins 22, they forming with housing 20 and rear portion 6 of the body a plurality of annular air passageways, and find the mounting of the streamlined body in housing 20 to be easily accomplished by incorporating fins 22 in such mounting means, as shown. The clearance between rotatable end portion 8 and fins 22 is desirably maintained at a minimum. I find that rectilinear moving air from the fan means results in better and more air circulation within an enclosure.

The housing 20 with the streamlined body mounted therein is in turn mounted for use in any suitable man ner, such as on a base 26. A connecting member 28 welded to housing 20 and base 26 has been found satisfactory to mount the fan means. Electric conduit 31] supplies power to motor means 10.

In the operation of the fan means shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the end member 8 having the centrifugal blower blades 16 mounted around the base thereof is rotated at a relatively high rate of speed by electric motor 10. Air moves in through the inlet in housing 20 to displace the air discharged from the housing as a result of rotating the centrifugal blower means. The free flow area between housing 20 and the portions 8 and 6 of the streamlined body preferably continually decreases gradually from inlet to outlet so that the air moving therethrough has its velocity continually increased. I have found that this enhances and maintains the pressure differential between the outside and inside of housing 29, resulting in more air being moved by my new device.

Any suitable number of centrifugal blower blades 16 canbe used, and any suitable number of stationary fins 22 can be employed, keeping in mind that enough fins must be used to accomplish the purpose of directing the air, and, in addition, keeping in mind that the fins create frictional loss to reduce the amount of air moved by the fan means. I have found it desirable that surfaces over which air moves be smooth with sharp corners eliminated wherever possible so that eddy currents are eliminated. The means of my invention can conveniently be constructed of metal, plastic materials, or the like. Also, I have found it to be advantageous to mount motor 1%) as shown with the exiting air moving over the housing 6 for the motor, this resulting in continual transfer of heat away from the motor, keeping it cool.

Fig. 3 depicts an ottoman type fan employing the new fluid moving means of my invention. In this instance, motor 10' is housed in fixed mushroomed portion 32 instead of the streamlined housing 6 of the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2. Fixed portion 32 is desirably smooth faced and gently curved, as shown. The assembly is vertically disposed in any suitable manner such as by support member 34 affixed to a base 36. The ottoman fan means operates in the same manner as the fan means of Figs. 1 and 2, the primary difference being that air exiting upwardly from housing 20 is directed by member 32 in an outwardly and upwardly direction all around the fan means. I have found this ottoman type embodiment of my fan means particularly desirable to circulate the air in a room with the fan means in a central location.

In Fig. 4 is depicted the new fluid moving means of my inventiin incorporated in a conduit 38. Housing 40 for the streamlined body, having portions 6 and 8, also forms a portion of the conduit, being secured to portions 38 of the conduit in any suitable manner. Fins 22 can conveniently be utilized to mount the streamlined body in housing 40. Portion 8 having the centrifugal blower blades 16 is rotated at a relatively high speed, resulting in moving air in the direction of the arrows on conduit 38. As one skilled in the art can see, my new fluid moving means when used in conminimum of space; The means-.of my-inuentiom-asde? picted in Fig. 4 readily;.-lends.itself.:to ain-circulatiomim a forced draft h eating;.;system, one .of. its -.chief advantages being-the easeof-insulating the air moving means:

for noise, whichdsimportant inzsuch systemsin many 3P? plications.

During operation; of the means ofsmy inyention, fluid passing over, the tconicaltv front, gelement 8 F016 7 theibody is forced .outwardly-,-bythe,- -centri fuga l=,blower 7 blades 16.

This movement of the fluid tends to create a low pressure zone, near the surface of;,-the.-.con ical element 8 and-,near,

the surface of the forward streamlined-portion of, the fixed part of the bodies 6, ;and 32],;which-preferably continue rearwardly streamlined from, .the;;rot-atable conical memberf'i. This results in apressuredifferential-which in. turnresults in ;highly efiicientand streamlined-flow. offluidymovedby thedevice.fromjronttorear. The fluid movesinto the, dcviceof-the invention'tQward the low pressure zone. createdv near; the surface; of; element; ,8. and rearwardlyparallelmto the surface of;.the conical. member .8' and .;with streamline :flQW; 1119b ibeingrestraincd' in. its. movement therethr0ugh.:..

As .willbe evident to; those Skil1d: .ll1g. the art, ,various modifications of this invention-:canjbe made,-;or;. followed,

in; the .light of this disclosure and fii-scussiommv-ithout departing from the spirit, or; scope .of-the disclosure or. from the scope of the, claims.

I ,claim:

1. A fan comprising; in, combination:; an ;elongated streamline .body. having, a continuous; tandgsmooth. aerodynamicsurface, a forward Por ion, of:-.saidbody;being rotatable and conical-land ,a .reariportion ,of said. body beingfixed, the surface-of. .said. conical; forward portion of said body at its rear end beingqflusmwith the surface of said rear portion of said body at its front end, said portions of said ibody being closely.adjacent=,: and said surface of said rear portion extendingabruptly rearwardly from the point of juncture of said body portions; actuating means .mounted. in. said. rear portiom. of; 'said streamline.bodyconnectedto andada'pted to rotate-said conical forward portion..of..said...body; .centrifugalfan means comprising a..plurality.of'.spaced, straight and shallow blades mounted. aroundthe 1-,base;,of said conical forward portion of said..body .with! the. :longitudinal; faxes of said b1ades..parallel..to .the -longitudinal axisiiofasaid conical forward position. of said. body and. withthe outer tip portions of..said.blades...positionedat said .pointof juncture of said conicaland. rearubodyriportions, antouter rim mounting and connectingthe forward ends of said blades; a cylindrically-shaped housing having a forward end. opening of smaller total :crosssectional area than its rear end opening, said housing mounted aroundand enclosing said centrifugal fan means. and forming anyair inlet to said fan means and said housing surrounding a middle portion of said streamline body to form therewith an annular air discharge, said housing and said body defining an air flow path of gradually decreasing cross sectional area from front to rear of said rotatable for- 'ward portion of said body; a plurality of stationary,

longitudinally disposed and curved fins mounted between the rear portion of said housing and said middle portion of said streamline body, said fins defining a plurality of air passageways and adapted to direct rearwardly moving air in a rectilinear direction; and means to mount said streamline body and cylindrically-shaped housing.

2. A fan comprising, in combination, streamlined body having a continuous and smooth aerodynamic surface, one end portion being rotatable and conoidally-shaped, the remainder of said body being fixed and housing actuating means for rotating said rotatable end portion, the surface of said conoidally-shaped portion at its inner end portion being substantially flush with the surface of said remainder of said body at its.inner end portion,

said portions of said body being closely adjacent, and

said surface of said remainderv of, said bodyextending spaced, straight and shallow ,centrifugal'blower blades mounted around the baseof said conoidally shaped end portion with the longitudinal. axis of said bladesparallel to the longitudinal axis of said streamlined body and with the outer tip portions of said blades closely positioned at said point of juncture of said conoidally-shaped body portion and remainder of said body, a cylindrical ly-shaped housing having an inlet of less totalv cross sec-. tional area than its outlet mounted around said rotatable end portion and forming an air inlet forward of same, said housing forming with said streamlined body an annular air outlet rearward of said rotatable end portion and said housing and said body defining an air flow path of decreasing cross sectional area from front to.

rear of said rotatable end portion, and fin means adapted to direct air moving from said rotatable end portion in.

a rectilinear direction.

3. A fluid moving device, comprising, in combinatiorn. a streamlined body having a continuous and smooth. aerodynamic surface, said body having a conoidal and. rotatableend portion and a smooth and gently curved.

fixed end portion, the surface of said conoidal end portion at its inner end portion being substantially .fiush with.

the surface of said fixed end portion at its inner end portion, said portions. of said body being closely adjacent,

and said surface of said fixed end portion extending-sub.

stantially abruptly and longitudinally away from .the point of junctureof saidbodyportions, a plurality of spaced, straight and shallow centrifugal blower blades mountedaround the base of said conoidal end portion.

with the longitudinal axes of saidblades parallel to. the.

longitudinal axisof saidbody and with the outer tip.

having a continuous and smooth surface, a lower portion.

of, said body being rotatable and conical and. an upper portion of said bodybeing fixed .and mushroomed the surface of said conical lower portion of said bodyatits upper end being flush with the surface .of said upper .por-. tion of said body at .its lower end, said. portions of said body being closely adjacent, and said surface of. said upper portion extending abruptlyupwardlyfromthe point of. juncture of said. body portions; actuating means mounted in said upper portion-ofsaid bodyconnected to and adapted to rotate said conical lower portion of said body; centrifugal fan means comprising a plurality of spaced, straight and shallow blades mounted around the base of said conical lower portion of said body with the longitudinal axes of said blades parallel to the longitudinal axis of said conical lower portion of said body, and with the outer tip portions of said blades positioned at said point of juncture of said conical and rear body portions, an outer rim mounting and connecting the forward ends of said blades; a cylindrically-shaped housi-ng having a lower end opening of smaller total cross sectional area than its upper end opening, said housing mounted around and enclosing said centrifugal fan means and forming an air inlet to said fan means and said housing surrounding the lower portion of said mushroomed upper portion of said body to form therewith an annular air'discharge, said housing and said body defining an air flow path of gradually decreasing cross sectional area from front to rear of said rotatable lower portion of said body; a plurality of stationary, longitudinally disposed and curved fins mounted between the upper portion of said housing and the lower portion of said upper portion of said body, said fins defining a plurality of air passageways and adapted to straighten the flow of spiraling air from said centrifugal fan means; and support means to mount said body and said cylindrically-shaped housing with their longitudinal axis vertical.

5. A fan comprising, in combination, a body, one end portion being rotatable and conoidally-shaped, the re mainder of said body being fixed and mushroomed and housing actuating means for rotating said rotatable end portion, the surface of said conoidally-shaped portion of said body at its inner end portion being substantially flush with the surface of said remainder of said body at its inner end portion, said portions of said body being closely adjacent, and said surface of said remainder of said body extending substantially abruptly and longitudinally away from the point of juncture of said body portions, a plurality of spaced, straight and shallow centrifugal blower blades mounted around the base of said conoidally-shaped end portion with the longitudinal axes of said blades'parallel to the longitudinal axis of said body and with the outer tip portions of said blades closely positioned at said point of juncture of said conoidallyshaped body portion and remainder of said body, a cylindrically-shaped housing having an inlet of less total cross sectional area than its outlet mountedaround said rotatable end portion and forming an air inlet forward of same, said housing forming with said body an annular air outlet rearward of said rotatable end portion and said housing and said body defining an air flow path of decreasing cross sectional area from front to rear of said rotatable end portion, and fin means adapted to straighten the flow of spiraling air from said rotatable end portion.

6. Fluid moving means, comprising, in combination, an elongated streamline body having a continuous and smooth aerodynamic surface, a forward portion of said body being rotatable and conical and a rear portion of said body being fixed, the surface of said conical forward portion of said body at its rear end being flush with the surface of said rear portion of said body at its front end, said portions of said body being closely adjacent, and the said surface of said rear portion extending abruptly rearwardly from the point of juncture of said body portions; actuating means mounted in said rear portion of said streamline body connected to and adapted to rotate said conical portion of said body; centrifugal fan means comprising a plurality of spaced, straight and shallow blades mounted around the base of said conical forward portion of said body with the longitudinal axes of said blades parallel to the longitudinal axis of said conical forward portion of said body and with the outer tip portions of said blades positioned at the point of juncture of said conical and rear body portions; an outer rim mounted and connecting the outer ends of said blades; a conduit surrounding said streamline body from a point in front of said rotatable forward portion of said body to a point to the rear of said fixed rear portion of said body, the total cross sectional area of said conduit in front of said rotatable forward portion being less than the total cross sectionalarea of said conduit at a point immediatelyto the rear of said rotatable forward portion of said body and said conduit and said body defining a fluid flow path of gradually decreasing cross sectional area from front to rear of said rotatable forward portion of said body; and a plurality of stationary, longitudinally disposed and curved fins mounted between said conduit and said fixed portion of said streamline body, said fins defining a plurality of fluid passageways and adapted to straighten the flow of spiraling fluid moving rearwardly from said centrifugal fan means.

7. A fan comprising, in combination, a body, said body having a conoidal and rotatable end portion and a mushroomed smooth and gently curved fixed end portion, the surface of said conoidal end portion at its inner end portion being substantially flush with the surface of said fixed end portion at its inner end portion, said portions of said body being closely adjacent, and said surface of said fixed end portion extending substantially abruptly and longitudinally away from the point of juncture of said body portions, centrifugal blower means comprising a plurality of spaced, straight and shallow blades mounted around the base of said conoidal end portion with the axes of said blades parallel to the longitudinal axis of said body and with the outer tip portions of said blades closely positioned at said point of juncture of said conoidal body portion and fixed body portion, and a housing around said rotatable end portion and a portion of said fixed portion of said body, said housing having less total cross sectional area forward of said rotatable end portion than at point immediately to the rear of same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,075,120 Rogers Oct. 7, 1913 1,702,632 DeBothezat Feb. 19, 1929 1,797,455 Vose Mar. 24, 1931 2,040,188 Smellie May 12, 1936 2,140,212 Sigwald Dec. 13, 1938 2,329,696 Chester Sept. 21, 1943 2,390,332 Schmidt Dec. 4, 1945 2,397,170 Jenkins Mar. 26, 1946 2,469,820 Fuge May 10, 1949 2,628,018 Koch Feb. 10, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 235,105 Switzerland Mar. 1, 1945 539,882 France July 1, 1922 563,453 Great Britain Aug. 15, 1944 

